Teachers of Darululoom Zahedan Express Concerns about Zahedan’s Friday Events

The teachers of Darululoom Zahedan warned of the dangerous consequences regarding the presence of military forces around the streets of the Grand Makki Mosque and their violent behaviour against the worshippers.
Referring to security forces’ crackdown around the place where Sunni worshipers offer Friday prayers weekly, the scholars considered arresting of the protesters and creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation contrary to the security and customs of the region. Teachers of Darululoom Zahedan demanded the stop of such violent treatments and called for wise and effective solutions to the recent events.
The statement was issued on Saturday March 4, 2023.
The text of the statement is as follows:
On Fridays, February 24 and March 3, armed forces inflamed the situation of the city by enforcing new anti-security measures around the Musalla and the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan.
The siege of the worshipers, the beating of the youth, and the relentless arrest of some people, including the arrest of the volunteer guards of the Grand Makki mosque, are provocative steps and an excuse to suppress the protesters and create an atmosphere of fear.
Some of the infiltrators affiliated with military and security forces have been identified and arrested by the staff guard of the Grand Makki Mosque. The infiltrator agents chanted anti-normative slogans and threw stones at the security forces in order to pave the way for discrediting and suppressing the peaceful protesters.
It should be noted, following the tragedy of [Zahedan’s] Bloody Friday and the unsolved problems, protestors have been chanting slogans every Friday to get their rights.
The process of arresting teenagers and young people and torturing and insulting them in detention centers has worried everyone. The presence of military forces in the streets around the Makki Mosque and their harsh and violent treatment not only stopped the protests, but also caused more anger, mistrust, and hatred among the people.
We, the teachers of Darululoom Zahedan, consider the tense presence of police and security forces and their threats to the worshipers against the security and custom of the region. We believe that if the military forces stay in their previous bases instead of besieging people and taking provocative actions, they will help more to provide the security of the city and the region.
Therefore, we strongly ask the high-ranking state officials in the center of the country and those who want peace and security to take the necessary measures to stop the violence. The process of the siege of the Makki mosque and relentless arrest of young worshippers must be stopped soon; otherwise, if the security hit the responsibility will be with the security and military forces.